Govt disappointed over slow land pooling, to extend deadline

Vijayawada, Feb 11, 2015: Disappointed by the failure of officials to reach the target of pooling 30,000 acres for the construction of capital city, the AP Government is thinking of extending land pooling deadline. The Government's original plan is to collect 30,000 acres by Feb 15 but so far the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) has succeeded in pooling a little bit over 12,000 acres and is yet to pool the remaining 18,000 acres in another four days which is an impossible task going by the pace of pooling being witnessed. According to officials, Government may extend the deadline by another fifteen days to reach the targets. So far, farmers of Tullur, Nelapadu, Sakhamuru and Anantavaram villages only have shown interest in handing over their land while the farmers of river front villages Rayapudi, Undavalli, Penumaka and Tadepally are opposing the land pooling for various reasons.

Farmers demonstrate opposing land pooling

Even as the Government is struggling to pool the targeted land for capital construction city, some farmers of Navuluru and Yerrabalem villages in Mangalagiri Mandalam have demonstrated as officials refused to accept their 9.2 forms from them to record their objections. The government has prescribed 9.2 forms for those who oppose the land pooling and 9.3 forms for those who are willing to give their lands. When farmers from these two villages wanted to submit their 9.2 forms opposing land pooling, officials refused to accept them. Following this, farmers had demonstrated before the offices of CRDA. Finally, CRDA officials had contacted the Deputy Collector and on his instructions, collected the 9.2 forms from farmers.